WASHINGTON, D.C. – Former Commissioner and All for 1 Union Leader Charles Woodley has called for greater recognition of the island’s history, identity and right to self-determination during an international conference in Washington, D.C. on decolonization and the right of return.
Addressing delegates at the conference organised by the Baku Initiative Group, Woodley argued that generations of Statians grew up without being taught key parts of their own history, including the 1848 slave revolt on the island. He said a better understanding of that history is essential for strengthening cultural identity and should become part of the local school curriculum.
Woodley also reflected on his time in the Executive Council prior to the Dutch government’s intervention in 2018. He described the dissolution of Statia’s elected government as an example of the imbalance of power between small Caribbean territories and metropolitan states, linking the event to broader discussions on decolonization and the right of peoples to determine their own political future.
International context
Referring to United Nations principles on self-determination and decolonization, Woodley said the experience of St. Eustatius should be viewed within an international context. He concluded by urging islanders to preserve and share their own history, arguing that understanding the past is essential to shaping the island’s future.
A copy of the full speech can be found here.
